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- Title
Florfenicol Therapy During Natural Mannheimia haemolytica Infection in Sakiz Sheep.
- Authors
Ural, Kerem; Ulutas, Bulent; Kirkan, Sukru; Gultekin, Mehmet; Parin, Ugur
- Abstract
Background: Bronchopneumonia caused by Mannheimia haemolytica affects sheep of all ages worldwide and may be devastating especially in young animals undergone recent stress (i.e. transportation, weaning, mixing with animals from different farms. It is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in lambs and kids, especially in those that have not received adequate colostrum or in which passive colostral immunity is waning. Yearly herd losses costing millions of dollars have led to research focused on theurapeutic trials and vaccine production because of various strains isolated demonstrating the continuing economic importance of Mannheimia haemolytica infection. A field trial was performed under commercial sheep farm located in Western Turkey, Aydin in an attempt to investigate the efficacy of an injectable formulation of florfenicol against naturally occuring Mannheimia haemolytica. Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 27 Sakiz breed lambs at the age of 36-60 days old, of both sexes, with naturally occuring M. haemolytica infection were included in the present study. Prior to allocation into groups, a detailed clinical examination carried out in all the lambs, revealed a variety of abnormal findings: coughing, presence of nasal and ophthalmic discharge, increased respiratory rate and rectal temperature and abnormal sounds at lung auscultation. A total of 27 samples taken from transtracheal aspiration bronchoalveolar fluid in the Sakiz breed lambs were taken into sterile containers in an attemp to perform isolation and identification of Mannheimia haemolytica. The antibiotic susceptibility tests for Mannheimia haemolytica strains isolated from transtracheal aspiration bronchoalveolar fluid were carried out by disc diffusion as described previously. On days 0, 1, 7, 15 and 30 sheeps were given a clinical score. The clinical lesion score (scores from 0 to 3) was derived from the clinical signs (feed consumption oral and nasal discharges, coughing lung auscultation findings, complete clinical examination) and was carried out by an investigator blinded. The lambs were randomly allocated into 2 groups until the required number of lambs in each group was reached. Lambs in group F (n = 17) were subcutaneoulsy injected with a single dose of florfenicol (dosage 2 mg/kg bodyweight); lambs in group C (n = 10) did not receive an antibiotic treatment and were left as controls. The efficacy of florfenicol was assessed clinically and on the basis of a lesion score derived from the physical examination. Throughout the study florfenicol treatment significantly decreased (P < 0.01) the investigator's clinical scores while no significant changes were detected in the untreated control group. Discussion: M. haemolytica is a commonly recognized responsible agent for respiratory diseases in sheep and several therapeutic antibiotics have been suggested for treatment applications. Florfenicol, that might have the potential of efficacy against M. haemolytica has not been used in sheep, therefore there is lack of data regarding its efficacy and safety. Despite the efficacy of the drug against respiratory infections of calves and pigs has been documented. Besides bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of florfenicol was evaluated solely in healthy sheep. Based on clinical scoring and complete remission, and supporting laboratory signs involving antibiogram studies, results of the present study may indicate that florfenicol may be a good and safe choice for treatment of respiratory infections due to M. haemolytica. The present results were supported by the gradual improvement and alleviation of clinical signs and, clinical remission within description of scores and the absence of pathogenic organisms in transtracheal aspiration after treatment. Furthermore, florfenicol-treated lambs had a significantly better clinical improvement and cure that that of untreated control group of animals.
- Subjects
BRONCHOPNEUMONIA; SHEEP infections; EFFECT of stress on animals; COLOSTRUM; LAMBS
- Publication
Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, 2011, Vol 39, Issue 2, p1
- ISSN
1678-0345
- Publication type
Article